Friday is deadline to register for next week’s Accounting and Customer Service Seminar: MEUW is holding its annual gathering for municipal electric utility accounting and customer service employees on Thursday, Sept. 23, at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. As always, the program features a presentation from the Public Service Commission, and this year’s presenter is Kristy Nieto, Administrator of the Division of Digital Access, Consumer and Environmental Affairs. Other topics include construction authority and public bidding, American Rescue Plan funding, and small group discussions about best practices in credit and collections. The cost to attend is $135 for MEUW members. Registration information and the updated seminar agenda are available here.
Member News: Kaukauna Utilities has announced the hiring of Michael Avanzi from Colorado Springs Utilities as its next General Manager. He will join KU on Nov. 1, succeeding Jeff Feldt, who is retiring after 40 years in the utility industry. Full details are available here.
The September edition of Live Lines was distributed last week. In case you missed it, you can find it online here.
“Call for Presentations” at January conference now open: The 2022 Electric Operations Conference & Expo (formerly “Joint Sups”) will feature a number of breakout sessions, and event organizers are inviting member utilities and members of the Wisconsin Utility Suppliers Association (WUSA) to submit ideas they can present to conference attendees. This will be an opportunity to showcase a product or service and share information and insights. Priority will be given to presentations that include a real-life success story featuring (and co-presented by) a Wisconsin municipal or electric cooperative utility. Full details are available here. The deadline to submit a proposal is Sept. 30.
Utility leaders encouraged to register for October Retreat: MEUW is organizing a two-day event to bring together those who are “in charge” of their community’s electric utility operations. The goal is to build connections, share leading practices, and help to strengthen public power. The gathering is Oct. 12 and 13 at the Lodge At Mauston; full details are here. All MEUW member utilities are encouraged to send at least one person to have their community represented.
Public Power Week right around the corner: Once a year, the public power industry takes a week to toot its own horn — Public Power Week 2021 is set for Oct. 3 to 9.
Led by the American Public Power Association (APPA), Public Power Week is a national celebration that recognizes the contributions of community-owned electric utilities, while seeking to educate customers nationwide about the distinct advantages that public power offers. We encourage all member utilities to use Public Power Week to remind your customers that they are part of something special. APPA has resources available on its website here.
Sign up to attend one-day chainsaw and tree-trimming workshop: MEUW is hosting a series of one-day workshops focusing on the maintenance and safe operation of chainsaws as well the basics of safe tree trimming. Each workshop will be conducted by certified arborist David Vincent, and will take place at six different sites across the state. Each session will take place on a date in October, with training beginning at 8:00 a.m. and wrapping up by 3:00 p.m. daily; lunch is provided. Cost is $235 per person for MEUW members/communities. Space is limited to the first 30 registrants at each site, and some locations are filling up quickly. To learn more, click here.
Ropes and Rigging Safety Workshop planned: MEUW has scheduled two December dates for a one-day safety workshop focused on the fundamentals of overhead rigging and knot-tying and the use of knots, ropes, blocks and tackle in the performance of line work. The session includes classroom and hands-on training and is set for Tuesday, Dec. 7 in Fennimore and Thursday, Dec. 9 in Wausau. Additional information is available here. Visit the online Event Calendar to register.
Updated Statistical Data now available: Wisconsin’s 81 municipal electric utilities served more than 302,000 customers, had $674.6 million in revenues, and paid their municipalities nearly $23.9 million in lieu of taxes last year. Those are a few highlights from the updated statistical data MEUW has compiled based on recent reporting to the Public Service Commission. You can access the complete data sheet here. MEUW puts together this summary using manual processes and data entry that may cause some inaccuracies. If you discover any problem with the information listed for your utility, please contact Mallory Conradt at (608) 478-2528.
